ASHINGTON PARISH Neighbourhood Plan What is a Neighbourhood Plan? It is a PLANNING DOCUMENT for Ashington Parish: Sets out what our village needs eg houses, employment, community facilities, healthcare, transport, education etc up to 2031 Specify what type of houses eg bungalows, flats, small or large houses, affordable homes Specify where the houses will be built eg brownfield sites, disused sites, infill between homes, edge of village Put plans in place to deliver infrastructure projects It is NOT: A list of ‘community projects’ A method to tackle other issues eg potholes, overgrowing vegetation, parking etc A forum to ‘fight’ individual sites

ASHINGTON PARISH Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee: Made up of combination of Parish Councillors & residents Responsible for overseeing the Plan Focus Groups: Economy/Business Planning/Infrastructure Transport/Access Community Facilities Environment/Heritage/Local Issues Advice from professionals: Consultants Action in Rural Sussex HDC Other Neighbourhood Plans eg Henfield Input: from residents, organisations and other interested parties through open days, meetings, surveys, suggestion boxes etc Who is preparing the Plan?

ASHINGTON PARISH Neighbourhood Plan How long will the Plan take? Over a year! Consultation with residents, organisations & other interested parties Draft written with help from consultants Agreed by Ashington Parish Council Approved by Horsham District Council Approved by Public Referendum Approved by an Independent Examiner Potential development sites brought forward by landowners

ASHINGTON PARISH Neighbourhood Plan Why do we need a Neighbourhood Plan? Planned Growth To make sure any new homes are in the right places – sustainable development To match infrastructure to population size – homes, transport, employment, education, healthcare, community facilities To protect our environment – trees, woods, ponds, green fields, wildlife etc To preserve our village status – small scale growth To prevent inappropriate development To meet community needs/wishes. New homes = community money

ASHINGTON PARISH Neighbourhood Plan The reality of Planning: If the public consultation shows significant need/support for new facilities or infrastructure then these can only be funded by money coming from Developers in exchange for planning permission to build new homes. For example: If new sports pitches are required then land can be given to the Parish for these in exchange for a Developer being given permission to build x number of new homes. If a Doctors Surgery is supported then a Developer may offer to build one in exchange for permission to build x number of homes (the usual population size required for a Doctors Surgery is 5000, Ashington is currently 3000). Developers build houses to make a profit for their shareholders, the cost of community facilities comes out of their profit. They will not undertake any development if there is no profit in it for them. Residents decide what the village needs and Developers pay for it in exchange for new homes.

ASHINGTON PARISH Neighbourhood Plan Role of Neighbourhood Plan Clerk: Keep the project moving forward Research Advice Administration Central point of contact Planning knowledge Co-ordination with Parish Council Independence (but still an Ashington resident) Karen Dare,

ASHINGTON PARISH Neighbourhood Plan How can I become involved? Your views are REALLY IMPORTANT Join a Focus Group Attend Steering Committee meetings Attend open days, parish council meetings and other events Fill in and return the Residents Survey Put your views in the suggestion boxes Send your views by on the Ashington Parish Council website* or by hand to the Parish Clerk *